Chapter 138
What Daphne pointed at was a single sword displayed at the very end of the treasury, in the highest place.
Being displayed in such a high place, one might think it was an important treasure, but judging by its appearance, that did not seem to be the case.
It was covered in rust and looked incredibly crude.
There were traces showing that someone had at least tried to maintain it somehow.
Heros slowly turned his gaze toward Daphne.
Had she chosen it knowingly, or was it simply intuition?
Whatever the case, Daphne had made quite an extraordinary choice.
Extraordinary enough to surprise even the Emperor.
After all, that sword was—
“So you’ve chosen the First Emperor’s sword.”
The Emperor said with a gentle smile, and Heros, standing beside him, nodded.
That sword had been the beloved weapon of the First Emperor, who founded this nation.
The reason it appeared so old and poorly maintained was because the Emperor had ordered that the blood of his enemies never be wiped from his sword.
The fact that the sword had lost its original appearance and had become so worn was proof that the Emperor had fought endlessly for the sake of this nation.
“Hm. How surprising. Truly surprising. To choose the First Emperor’s sword…”
The Emperor continued smiling gently as he looked down at Daphne.
Looking straight back at him, Daphne thought,
‘What are you talking about? You’re talking about yourself.’
The First Emperor was obviously this very Emperor, that Gold Dragon.
Watching him shamelessly pretend otherwise was utterly ridiculous.
Picking at her ear, Daphne shrugged.
The Emperor spoke again.
“May I ask why you chose that one?”
How should she answer?
Should she say that she could sense the blade had been forged from a dragon’s claw?
Or that she had noticed dragon scales embedded in the blade?
After pondering for a moment, Daphne shrugged again.
“I chose it because it’s pretty.”
The Emperor looked down at Daphne with a somewhat bewildered expression.
“You don’t have to force yourself to use honorifics that don’t suit you. I permit you to speak comfortably.”
“You should’ve said that from the beginning.”
“What was that?”
“…Nothing.”
Shaking her head, Daphne answered again.
“I really chose it because it’s pretty. The moment I came in, it immediately caught my eye.”
“That?”
“Yes.”
Listening to their conversation, Heros frowned.
What kind of conversation was this?
No, to begin with, could this even be called a conversation between an Emperor and a young lady meeting for the first time?
For the first time in a long while, he felt utterly dumbfounded.
Being around Daphne always seems to make me feel this way.
Heros muttered with a faint chuckle.
“Yes… Perhaps it’s the perfect fit for you.”
The Emperor murmured something incomprehensible before bending one knee in front of Daphne and lowering himself.
He met her at eye level.
“So, I wish to show you a kindness.”
“A kindness?”
Instead of answering, the Emperor extended his right hand.
At once, the sword that had been firmly attached to the wall tore itself free with a grinding sound and flew into his hand.
“This.”
Grinning, the Emperor handed the sword to Daphne.
“When you’re able to use this properly, come find me again.”
“Huh?”
“Only then will I finally be able to help you.”
…What?
Daphne’s eyes widened as though they were about to pop out.
To begin with, it was a sword forged from a dragon’s claw and scales.
If a human were to wield it, they would not even be able to draw out a quarter of its true power.
This sword had been created solely for dragons.
Therefore, the Emperor should naturally know that an ordinary human young lady who was not a dragon could never properly wield it.
Yet…
What?
He told her to come back when she could use it properly?
Could it be…
‘Does he know I’m a dragon?’
But how?
The moment she entered this body, every trace of her aura had been completely concealed.
So how?
Even people like Artson and Kalid Rache hadn’t noticed.
‘Could it be… that I entered this body because of him?’
It was a fairly reasonable deduction.
Instinctively, Daphne reached out toward the Emperor.
“Tell me properly—”
However, the Emperor moved faster.
“I believe it’s time for you to return.”
Smiling faintly, he snapped his fingers.
At that very moment, a teleportation magic circle began to form beneath Daphne’s feet.
“W-Wait! No, j-just a moment!”
“When we meet again in the future, I hope you’ll give me even greater joy.”
“You crazy repti—!”
Fwaaash—!
A mass of golden light enveloped Daphne’s body.
As the light faded, Daphne vanished in an instant.
She had most likely been transported back to the Grand Duke’s residence.
“…Your Majesty.”
Standing with his hands behind his back, Heros faced the Emperor.
Ordinarily, both he and Daphne should have been teleported together.
But the Emperor had only sent Daphne away.
That could only mean he had something to say to Heros.
Clasping his hands tightly behind his back, Heros looked toward the Emperor’s chin.
“Your daughter is quite interesting.”
“…Yes.”
“So I’ve given considerable thought to what should be done.”
The Emperor’s pupils narrowed into vertical slits.
Snapping his fingers one after another, he fell silent in thought.
Heros quietly waited beside him.
Before long, the Emperor finally spoke.
“Heros.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Can you…”
Looking directly into Heros’s eyes, the Emperor asked,
“Kill your daughter?”
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The training ground behind the Grand Duke’s residence was usually rather deserted.
The central training ground was both closer and equipped with much better weapons.
As a result, almost no one trained in the rear training ground.
However…
“One means spirit, two means focus. One!”
“Spirit!”
“Two!”
“Focuuuus!”
For several days now, loud shouting had echoed throughout the area.
“Ugh… huff! Aaaagh!”
“T-Too hard! Ugh… Aaagh!”
They were the screams of Teiti and Artson.
After doing who knew how many push-ups, the sand beneath them had become completely soaked with sweat.
Naturally, their arms and legs trembled so violently that they looked ready to give out.
“Again. One!”
“Spirit!”
“Two!”
“Foc… Focuuuus! No, forget focus! Aaagh! This is too hard! I’m done!”
Having finally reached his limit, Artson rebelled and sprang to his feet.
“Why do I have to do this?! Huh?!”
Pointing at the culprit behind his suffering—that completely unnecessary lunatic, Shiosen—Artson shouted.
Having borrowed an instructor’s cap from Guardian, Shio lifted the brim of the cap and tilted his head.
“Well, if you don’t want to get beaten up, you have to.”
“…I’m not that weak.”
“Weaker than me.”
“Ugh… Ughhh!”
Unable to contain his anger, Artson stomped his feet repeatedly.
“If you want to beat me up, then become stronger. And if you want that, this training is exactly what you need.”
“Aaagh! This is so annoying! It’s even more annoying because you’re right!”
But Shio wasn’t wrong.
So, with tears in her eyes, Artson had no choice but to reluctantly get back down and resume the push-ups.
After watching Artson with satisfaction, Shio turned toward Teiti, who had cautiously raised his head beside him.
“Excuse me, Mr. Shio.”
“Feel free to speak casually.”
“Ah, okay. S-Should I?”
His once-beautiful hair had been completely torn out and scraped away, leaving it a complete mess.
Scratching the back of his head, Teiti spoke carefully.
“W-Well, I’m an elf, right? So I’m more of a healer. Is it really necessary for a healer to build up physical strength? Hahaha.”
“Mr. Teiti.”
“Y-Yes?”
“It was because of that kind of complacent attitude that Lady Daphne had such a hard time.”
“……”
“If only you had been a little stronger! Then Lady Daphne could have fought however she pleased without having to worry about mere humans!”
Wouldn’t it be better if we just didn’t fight in the first place…?
I’m an elf…
A gentle race that lives with nature…
Do I really have to fight…?
Swallowing the words he couldn’t bring himself to say, Teiti lowered his head.
“Head down.”
“…Head down.”
Then he obediently lowered his head.
He had done so many head-down punishments by now that he felt as though calluses would soon form on the top of his head.
Teiti slowly shook his head.
Just then—
“Hm?”
A familiar voice rang out.
“What are you all doing?”
It was Daphne, who had been away at the Imperial Palace.
The moment Teiti and Artson saw Daphne, they immediately raised their heads.
Their eyes filled with hope.
Perhaps Daphne would put an end to this hell.
“Ah, Lady Daphne! You’re back?”
Removing the instructor’s cap he was wearing, Shio approached Daphne.
“I’ve been putting these two through training on your behalf.”
“Why?”
“Well,”
Shio smiled brightly.
“Because this is how I relieve my stress.”
“…Huh?”
“Every time I work them this hard, all the anger bottled up inside me just melts away.”
“……”
“It’s the perfect cure for bottled-up frustration.”
Daphne looked at Shio’s refreshed expression.
Then she looked at the utterly exhausted Teiti and Artson sprawled on the ground.
Then she looked back at Shio again, carefully reading the atmosphere.
She had originally intended to work Artson this hard…
Teiti, on the other hand…
Well, not really…
“R-Right. K-Keep up the good work.”
Maybe that guy should experience some hardship too.
Thinking that, Daphne deliberately avoided Teiti’s pleading gaze.
Then she tugged on Shio’s sleeve.
“I have something I want to ask you.”
Shio tilted his head.
Then, suddenly realizing something, he let out an “Ah!” and nodded.
“The Emperor?”
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